Rugby League News

Jacob Preston is a leading candidate to replace injured Liam Martin for NSW's State of Origin opener.

The Australian

Jacob Preston has already come mightily close to representing NSW and Australia, but a Blues debut is starting to gather momentum with the Bulldogs back-rower one of the leading candidates to replace Liam Martin if he's ruled out of the State of Origin opener with a knee injury.

Martin left the field during Thursday night's game against Preston's Bulldogs, with reports suggesting he could miss six to eight weeks with an MCL injury.

The Origin opener on May 27 is roughly six weeks away, which would mean Martin wouldn't have any footy under his belt even if he's able to return at the lower end of the scale.

Losing him would be a massive blow for Blues coach Laurie Daley, given Martin has represented his state 15 times, but NSW has no shortage of options on the edge with Preston, Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau'atu all in scorching form.

While the others have played for the Blues, Preston is still waiting for his chance after he trained with them in Leura last year.

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Ricky Stuart advised Savelio Tamale to regain confidence during a game, believing he can return to his best after recent struggles despite a strong past performance.

The Canberra Times

To understand why Ricky Stuart pulled Savelio Tamale aside during a game and urged him to "believe in his ability," consider this: the Canberra Raiders winger might have won last year's Meninga Medal by the length of the Thoroughbred Park straight if he hadn't missed half a season through injury.

Because Tamale still finished second in the count for the Raiders' player of the year despite missing nine games. But this year, the Canberra winger is "down on confidence."

Which is why Stuart took a chance to talk with Tamale during the first half of Canberra's thrilling two-point win over South Sydney in Perth on Saturday.

Tamale had just scored a long-range try, but it almost ended in disaster when he pulled up short of the line and almost gave Cody Walker a chance to make a try-saving tackle.

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Jye Gray injured his AC joint and faces a few weeks out after a heavy tackle in Souths' loss to Canberra.

Fox League

In-form Souths fullback Jye Gray is facing a stint on the sidelines after suffering an AC joint injury in the Rabbitohs' heart stopping two point loss to Canberra in Perth on Saturday afternoon.

Gray was tackled heavily by Raiders' middle Morgan Smithies and winger Jed Stuart in the first quarter of an hour of the clash, resting his arm in a makeshift sling made by his jersey as he left the field in obvious pain.

Souths' coach Wayne Bennett said he was expecting to be without the rising star for at least a few weeks.

"It's an AC joint so it's pretty sore," Bennett said.

"I've got to assume it will be two or three weeks at least."

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